Setts



0. OHLSON.

MECHANICAL TI'ME FUSE FOR PROJECTILES.

APPLICATION FILED was. I917.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

69 //IIIIIIII llll HE; ll'lm O. OHLSONJ MECHANICAL TIME FUSE FORFROJECTILES.

APPLICATlON FILED DEC.8. 1911.

1,319,304. Patented Oct. 21,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JwUQTIRbOT:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.)

OLOF OHLSON, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WALTHAM WATCHCOMPANY, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS.

MECHANICAL TIME-FUSE FOR PROJECTILES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented O t 21 1919.

Application filed December 8, 1917. Serial No. 206,278.

To all IP/IOIIL it may concern.-

lie it known that I, OLOF OIILSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newton, in the county of Middlcsex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in MechanicalTime- Fuses for Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention has reference to fuses for artillery shells andother explosive projectiles, and particularly to that type of fuse whichis controlled entirely by mecha- 'lism so as to ignite the charge of theprojectile after lapse of a predetermined time from the firing, orrelease otherwise, of the projectile or other container of the explosivecharge. The main object of the invention is to furnish a fuse of thischaracter which shall be certain to operate at the time set for itsoperation; and in realizing this object I have provided certain novelelements and combinations having to do with the time mechanism, theregulating or setting" means for such mechanism, a hammer and triggermechanism, a safety stop preventing the time mec-hanismfrom beginning torun until the desired instant, and improvements in the frame of the fuseby which the necessary strength and rigidity is secured withoutexcessive weight and complete freedom of motion is afforded for thenecessary moving parts'of the mechanism; all cooperating to cause orpermit substantially exact running of the time mechanism and promptrelease of the firing hammer at the given instant, without disturbanceby the forces acting upon the fuse while the same is carried by theshell in flight and at the moment of firing it from a gun. The inventiontherefore consists in the various means and improvements by which myobject is accomplished, and in the principles underlying such means andimprovements, all as hereinafter set forth in detail and recited in theclaims.

The present application is in the main a continuation of my earlierapplication Serial Number 104,416 filed June 19, 1916, entitled Timefuse for artillery projectiles; and contains the inventions set forthand claimed in said application, together with further improvementshereinafter particularly set forth.

The drawings illustrate an operative em bodiment of the invention, andthcrein- Figure 1 shows a complete fuse, with the base and cap orsetting member thereof in section and the mechanical parts in elevatron.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fuse mechanism. I

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts located below the timing disk, aportion of-such parts being brokenn away.

Fig. 4. is a vertical section on line 4 i of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the frame of the fuse mechanism, with themoving parts of the mechanism removed.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the coupling begwiipn the setting member andthe timing Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are plan views of the parts of themechanism below lines 77, 8-8, and 99, respectively, of Fig. 4.

Fig, 10 is an elevation ofthe regulator for the time mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of the same on line 1111 of Fig. 10. a

Fig. 12 is a cross section on line 1212 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the hammer and trigger mechanismrepresented on an enlarged scale, taken on line 13l3 of Fig. 8 lookingin the direction of the arrows, the

same being shown in cocked position.

' Fig. 14 is a similar view of the same parts in the released position.

Fig. 15 is an elevation of this mechanism as viewed from the right ofFig. 8.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view showing in elevation the stop forpreventing running of the time mechanism.

Fig. 17 showsthe stop in its released position.

The, same reference characters designate the same parts in all thefigures.

The fuse as a whole comprises a base 21, a cap or setting member 22, atime mechanismshown as a whole at 23 in Fig. 1 and including anadjustable timing disk 24, and a coupling 25 between the setting cap 22and the timing disk. The base 21 is adapted to be mounted upon aprojectile and may be constructed in any manner which permits of beingso mounted. As here shown it is made as a screw plug having externalthreads 26 by which it may be screwed into a suitably formed opening inthe projectile." The cap 22 is shown as a sheet metal cup, inverted,formed with its rim inwardly offset and provided with a lip 27 whichenters a recess in 1 mounted in a framewhich is shown particu-' the base21 and is held therein by a lock larly in Figs. 1 and 5 and comprises abottom plate 29, a top plate 30 and an intermediate plate 31; the topplate being supported from the bottom plate by three (more or less)posts or pillars 32 and the intermediate plate being similarly supportedby posts or pillars 33. These pillars are suitably secured in the bottomplate, and the top and intermediate plates are detachably securedthereto by screws 3e (Fig. 3) and 35 (Fig. 8). This frame is astructural unit having extreme strength and r1- gidity, which supportsall the moving parts, including the hammer and trigger mechanism.. It issuitably mounted on the fuse base and secured thereto, and is inclosedby the cap 22.

7 The hammer and trigger mechanism comprises a hammer or firing pin 36mounted so that it may move endwise in bearings in the top and bottomplates, a locking or trigger bar 37 having a trigger arm 38,

formed preferably as a slender pin set at one end firmly in said bar,and a releasable detent lever 39 which is controlled by the timing disk24. On the hammer is a flange or shoulder 40 against which bears aspring 4:1, the latter being preferably coiled around the shank of thehammer in helical form and reacting against the top plate 30, the endwhich thus bears on the plate being contained in an annular groove 4:1.surrounding the bearing for the hammer shank, said groove being providedinorder to give room for a greater length of spring than can becontained between the face of the plate and said flange. This flange orshoulder rests,

when the hammer is cooked, on a shoulder 42 rights 44 on a chair 45which is secured to the bottom plate 29 by a screw 46 or otherwise. Theshoulder or hammer abutment 42 is formed between the trunnions by cuttinaway the trigger bar on one side so as to cave a surface whichpreferably passes through the axis of the trunnions, and is preferablyperpendicular to the line in may be so placed that its engagement with athe flange shoulder or projection 40 of the hammer is at any desiredpoint between the outer edge or end of shoulder 42 and the axis of thebar. Thereby the bar inay withstand the force imposed on it by theinertia of the hammer at the time of firing (that is, the set back ofthe hammer), and the pressure transmitted thereby through the arm 38 atthat time is not great, Wherefore such arm may be made small and light.The cut away part of the bar which forms the shoulder 42 is otherwise soshaped that, when the trigger bar is turned to the position shown inFig. 14, the projection 40 may.

fall freely away from it.

It will be observed that the axis of the trigger bar is substantiallyradial to the axis of the fuse, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the latteraxis being the geometrical center of the plates, and coinciding with theaxis of the shell when the fuse is placed thereon. This is an importantfeature, the value of which will be presently explained. The arm 38 is arod or pin set into the trigger bar and of such length that when it isin the upright position, shown in Figs. 1 and 13, it projects somewhatabove the upper face of the plate 30, but not as far as the undersurface of the timing disk 24.

The release lever 39 lies upon the upper face of the plate 30, to whichit is connected by a pivot stud 47, and the plate supports the entirelever, its edge adjacent thereto having an outline approximatelycoincident with the outer edge of the lever. Said lever has two arms, onone of which is a shoulder 48 crossing the path in which the trigger arm38 moves from the cooked to the releasing position, and on the other ofwhich is a finger 49 crossing the plane of the timing disk, as shown inFig. 1, and bearing against the edge of the latter, thereby holding theshoulder 48 in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which saidshoulder obstructs the arm 38. The end of finger 49 overlies the edge ofthe timing disk and thus makes impossible any such springing or bendingup of the disk which is of thin sheet metal and therefore flexible, aswould permit the finger to pass under it, and so possibly permit releaseof the hammer at the wrong time. This release lever is of light stock,being conveniently made of a stamping punched out of sheet steel, andbeing therefore ofequal thickness at all points. Its two arms are ofsuch mass, and their masses are so distributed, that the centrifugalforces acting on both arms in consequence of the spinning motion of theshell in flight are balanced on opposite sides of the fulcrum. In otherwords, the product of the mass of the arm by the distance of its centerof gravity from thepivot 47'is the same as to both arms. Thuscentrifugal force has no excess tendency either to press the finger 49against thetiming disk or tohold the shoulder 48 across the path of thetrigger arm 38, wherefore neither the timing disk nor the trigger isimpeded in its movement by the lever.

This shoulder is inclined to the plane in which the trigger arm moves,and consequently the pressure of the hammer spring transmitted throughthe arm tends to displace the shoulder, and it has that effect, movingthe same clear of the arm, when the detent lever is permitted to move bythe arrival of the timing disk in a certain position. The edge 5.0 ofthe lever adjacent to the shoulder is so disposed as to clear the pathof the trigger arm when the lever is thus displaced;

That part of the top plate 30 wh ch supports the lever is cut away,provlding a channel 51 to receive and guide the end of the arm 38, suchchannel being of course in the plane of movement of the arm, which isperpendicular to the axis of the trigger bar and thereby substantiallysquarely across the line in which centrifugal force 'acts on the triggerarm since the trigger bar is approximately radial to the fuse axis. Theouter boundary of thechannel 51 thus serves as a retainer for thetrigger arm, preventing it from being distorted or displaced bycentrifugal force.

When the time-mechanism is in -motion, the timing disk 24 is rotatedthereby in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. A notch 52 is providedin the edge of the disk and is adapted to admit the finger 49 whenarriving opposite-the same, thus permitting such movement of the detentlever as will carry the stop shoulder 48 clear of the trigger arm,whereby the trigger mechanism is tripped and the hammer is allowed tostrike. This disk is mounted on a shaft or staff 54:, hereinafter calledthe main ,or center staff which has bearings in the top and intermediateplates 30, 31, its bearing in the latter being a step bearlng.Engagement between the staff and disk is frlctional, the stafi beingtapered and the sleeve or hub 55, to which the disk is secured, having atapered hole to fit it. The latter 1s held securely enough so that 1tw1ll not sllp under ordinary accidental shocks, by means of a nut 56screwed upon the end of the staff, and a spring washer 57 between thenut and the disk, having arms which bear on the latter; but thlsengagement is loose from the cap to the disk enough to permit adjustmentof the timing disk by the setting cap through the coupling member 25.Upon firing the gun in which the shell carrying the fuse is loaded, theset back due to' the inertia of the disk and its hub under the forcesuddenly applied by explosion ofthe propelling charge, forces the hubtightly upon the staff.

The coupling 25 between the timing disk and setting cap is a tongue offlexible material which is carried by the setting cap and the end ofwhich -is so curved or' bent as to cross the plane of the timing diskand pass through an opening 58 in the latter; said tongue beingpreferably of sheet metal of width great enough to provide suchstiffness as is required to transmit movement for setting, and of athickness so slight that it may be flexed in the manner presentlyexplained. This disposition of the coupling enables the edge or rim ofthe disk to cross the opening 58 uninterruptedly, whereby suchopenwithout reference to the position of the detent finger 49, and theentire circumference of the disk is available for setting. It is thuspossible to set the disk so that it must rotate almost 360 before itreleases the trigger mechanism. The engagement of the coupling ispositive with each side of the opening 58, whereby the timing disk canbe turned in either direction by rotation of the cap. Disconnection ofthe coupling is effected by setback on 'dischargeof the gun, thecoupling being confined and guided between the wall of the cap and abridge plate or holder 59, secured thereto, which has a lip 60 underlyinthe curved part of the coupling and is su ciently rigid not to bedistorted by set back. A weight 61 is connected to the outer end of thecoupling and is of such mass that it sufiices under set back to withdrawthe tongue from the opening 58, pulling it over the bridge 59 andovercoming the resistance to such movement due to the bend in' thetongue. Thus as soon as the shell is fired from the gun, the

timing disk is released from the setting cap and left free to rotatewith the time mechanism, with which it has at the same time becomefirmly connected by wedging of the hub 55 on the tapered part of staff54, as already described.

The motive force for the timing mechanism here shown is furnished by aspring 62 coiled as a fiat spiral within a cavity in the top plate 30,over which is arranged a cover 63 secured to the top plate. The outerend of this spring is fastened to an annular winding wheel 64 havingteeth which are accessible through a hole 65 in the cover plate to beengaged by a toothed winding key. A spring-pressed click or pawl 6%engaging the teeth of the wheel mg may be located in any part of thedisk speed of the mechanism there is provided a gear trailr comprising agear wheel 66 on the staff M; a second wheel 67 having a staff 68 whichpasses through the intermediate plate 31, having its. bearings in thebottom plate 29 said staff 68 in a potence 68 so mounted upon the upperside of the intermediate plate 31 as to bring the upper bearing abovethe plane of the gear wheel 66, and carrying a pinion 69 in mesh withthis wheel; a third wheel 70, to which is connected a pinion 71 in meshwith the wheel 67 an escape wheel 72 carrying a pinion 7 3 in mesh withthe wheel 70; and an oscillative pallet 74 carrying pins 75 and 76 whichobstruct the teeth of the escape wheel and are moved alternately out ofthe way of such. teeth by the pressure exerted against them through theinclined sides of the teeth. The pallet is mounted on a staff 77 and iscontrolled by a spring 78 which passes through said staff and is wedgedtherein, as shown in Fig. 9.. One end of the spring is confined by stops79 and the other end is engaged with a regulator 80, adjustable alongthe spring to alter its effective length, and thereby the force which itexerts to return the pallet after each displacement thereof, and so thespeed of oscillation of the pallet. This regulator is an extension atone side of a plate 81, which is formed as a bridge with its ends turneddown so as to rest on the bottom plate, and this extension has a notch82 receiving the spring. A- regulating screw 83 passes through theturned down ends of thebridge plate and is threaded into a stud 84Efixed in the plate 29. A groove 85 inthe head of the screw receivesparts of the bridge plate 81 whereby the latter is compelled to moveendWise with the screW,-although the screw has freedom of relativerotation. This regulator is held upon the bottom frame plate by a coverplate 86, which is secured to the frame plate by a screw 87, and itplate into which a lug 89 on the bridge plate proJects. i a,

Both the main staff 54 .and the escape pallet 74: are mounted in. theaxis of Ethe fuse in order to avoid the'disturbi'ng effects is guided bya groove 88 in said bottom of centrifugal force set 11 by the spinningof the shell in flight. This arrangement brings the main staff and thepallet staff in line, the former being entirely above the intermediateplate, and the latter bein between the intermediate and bottom plates.

In order to protect the pallet stafi' against injury by the setbackforce of the center or main stafi and the parts which are mountedthereon, the upper pivot bearing of the pallet staff is formed, not inthe intermediate plate, but in a bridge or spider 90 supported by theposts 33 below the intermediate plate, and slightly separated from thelatter by interposed washers.

This spider, being separated from the intermediate plate, is notaffected by the force applied upon the latter by the inertia of the mainstaff, and it is further supportedby posts 92, 93 set upon the bottomplate at opposite sides of the pallet. These posts have shoulders whichunderlie the spider, through the spider and bear against the under sideof the intermediate plate.

The wheels of the time train are at one side of the axis of the fuse andmainly outside of a line joinin the two adjacent supporting pillars 330% the intermediate plate. The peripheral part of that plate whichtherefore overlies the train wheels and provides the bearings for thesame is prevented from springing under set back by a suspender 94,provided by a screw which is passed through the top plate and isthreaded into a tapped hole in the intermediate plate. This screw may beone of those which hold the cover plate 63 of the main spring cavity inplace.

The frame, constructed as hereinbefore described, combines theadvantages of strength and rigidity with comparative lightness,accessibility, and low cost of manufaeture. The three plates and thespider may be produced: by punching from sheets or plates of metal, andthe various posts may be cut from rods of the required diameters, allthese parts being thus produced with the minimum of machine work andlabor cost. This form of construction enables each of' the parts to bedesigned with exactly the proper mass of material, and no more,necessary to furnish the required rigidity, whence it follows that theframe as a whole may be trimmed of all excess weight and thus built withthe minimum of weight in proportion to the rigidity reand reduced neckswhich pass ter from moving in either direction; and it has shanks 98 and99 which are guided in openings in the plates :29 and 30, being adaptedto move endwise therein in a line approximately parallel to the axis ofthe fuse. A part of this stop is provided with an inclined shoulder 100which is engaged with spring jaws 101 arranged to hold the stop inengagement with the arm, as shown in Fig. 16. This inclined shoulder orconical surface is adapted to spread the spring jaws apart and slipbetween them, under the fore of set back, wherefore when the shell isfired the stop passes from the position shown in Fig. 16to that shown inFig. 17,

wherein the shoulder 97 lies below the stop arm 95. On the upper shank98 there is a shoulder 102, the end of the shank beyond this shoulderbeing reduced in diameter, and

when the stop is displaced as above described, this shoulder is broughtbelow the under surface of the top plate 30. Thereupon centrifugalforce, due to the rotation of the shell, moves the upper end of the stopoutward until its reduced end strikes the side of the. hole in the plate30, and the shoulder 102 is carried under the wider surface of thisplate, preventing the stop from rebounding. Thus a positive lock isprovided which retains the stop in the releasing position.

A further safeguard to insure against accidental detonation of the fuseis provided in the form of a block 103 resting on the bottom plate andmounted to turn about a pivot stud 101. The edge of the block lies.under the shoulder 40 of the hammer, and

it is normally held in the position shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 13 by a.lightspring 105 which is coiled about the stud 10 one end of the springbeing secured to that stud and the other end bearing against a shoulderon the block. A part of the block then bears against one of the pillars33. In the edge of this block near that part which-thus underlies thehammer is a recess 106 adapted to be brought beside the hammer andsoformed as to admit the shoulder 10. This block is unbalanced. itscenter of gravity being between the pivot stud and the hammer, wherebycentrifugal force due to the rotation of the shell moves it until therecess .106 is beside the hammer, a shoulder 107 on the block arrestingit in this posit-ion by coming in contact with the adjacent pillar 33.Thus when the trigger mechanism is thereafter tripped, the hammer isfree to pass and strike the detonating cap; but up to the time when theshell has actually been fired from the gun and thereby set in rotatlon,the block 103 stand in the way of the hammer and prevents it fromstriking the cap even though the trigger mechanism should acc1-'dentally be released. The block is of so great mass and the spring 104so light that claims.

which the shell equipped with my fuse is loaded, the coupling betweenthe setting member and the tilning'disk is disconnected and thestopwhich prevents running of the time mechanism is displaced, and is atonce looked so that it can not rebound into position for againobstructing the mechanism, whereby the mechanism commences to run,driving the timing disk in the direction indicated. At the same time theblock 103 is displaced so as no longer to obstruct the hammer. When thetime mechanism has run for a given length of time, determined by theprevious setting of the timing disk, the notch 52 arrives opposite tothe finger 49 of the release lever, allowing such finger to enlatter,being actuated by the hammer spring 41, pushes this abutment out of theway, and swings over, permitting the locking shoulder of the trigger barto be displaced out of the way of the hammer projection 40, therebypermitting the hammer to strike and detonate the cap.

The terms used in the foregoing description have been adopted solely forconvenience and without intent of limiting the protection which I claimto parts corresponding strictly with any specific definitions of suchterms. Neither do I limit the invention to the precise relativepositions of the parts as shown, but include within the protectionhereinafter claimed corresponding elements of all forms and descriptionshaving any desired relationship, provided only thev cooperate to producethe desired results in substantially the manner pointed out in the Theterms denoting relative position, such as horizontal, vertical, above,below, etc., have been used with respect to the particular osition ofthe fuse shown in the drawings, tlie axis of the same being representedas vertical and the plates as horizontal. In actual service the axis ofthe fuse is in the line of, initial flight of the shell, and the forceof set back acts in this line, while centrifugal force acts in a plane'lation of such line and plane to the horizon.

The following claims are to be construed in the light of the foregoingdefinitions.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

, 1. In a time fuse, a firing member, a time controlled mechanism, forgoverning the operation of said member, an adjustable timing elementassociated with said mechanism and constructed with a recess locatedwithin its periphery, a setting member movable to shift and therebadjust said timing element, and a coup ing carried by said settin memberhaving one end offset from sai member projecting across the plane ofmove ment of the timing element into said recess for transmitting themovement of said member to said element, said coupling being guidedtomove by inertia on firin in a' direction such that its ofi'set end iswithdrawn from said recess.

,2. A time fuse comprising in combination a driving mechanism, a timmgdisk engaged with said drivin mechanism to be driven thereby andadjustable relatively thereto, said disk having an openin within itsedge, a, setting member concentric with said timing disk adjustableabout the common center, and a coupling of flexible material carried bythe setting member and being curved and located to carry its end acrossthe plane of said timing disk and into said opening, said end beiwithdrawn from the opening by inertia uii der the shock of firing.

3. A time fuse comprising in combination, a driving mechanism, a timmgdisk engaged with said driving mechanism to-be driven thereby andadjustable .relatively thereto, said disk having an opening within itsouter edge, a setting member concentric with said timing disk adjustableabout the common center, a coupling of flexible material lying alongsidethe setting tmember and being curved to carry its end around the edge ofthe timing disk and into said opening, and a relatively rigid guidesecured to the setting membersupporti said coupling; the coupling beingso weig ted that it is dislodged by inertia on firing and is moved alongthe guide, withdrawing the end ofthe coupling from said opening.

4. In a time fuse 'for an explosive projectile, the combination of abase, a. time mechanism supported on said base and in-. cluding acontrolling disk, a cap rotatably mounted on the base, and a couplingmember comprising a piece of relatively soft metal mounted on the capand having one end extending therefrom and bent substantially into theplane of the controlling disk to engage the same normally, and to be removed from such plane by inertia when the projectile is fired from thegun, whereby to release the time mechanism.

5. In a time fuse the combination of a timing member, an adjustablesetting member, and a coupling between said setting.

member and timing member, said coupling being a bar of flexible materialhaving a curved end portion passing into engagement with the timingmember, and being so disposed that said end portion is flexed andwithdrawn from engagement with the timing member by the action ofinertia on firmg. V

6. In a time fuse the combination of a setting member, a timing element,said setting member and timing element being movable in approximatelyconcentric relation, a holder connected to said settting member, and acoupling device of flexible material supported by said holder having oneend extended on a curve into locked engagement with said timing element,and the other end being weighted, whereby the inertia of the latter endupon firing is adapted to withdraw the first-named end from engagementwith the timing element.

7. In a time fuse, a hammer andv trigger mechanism comprising aspring-impelled hammer having a cocking shoulder, a trigger bar mountedto turn about an axis transverse to the direction in which said shoulderis adapted to move, and having a surface crossing the path of saidshoulder when the hammer is cpcked, means supporting said bar atopposite sides of the part thereof at which it is engaged by saidshoulder, whereby the shoulder is enabled to bear on the bar at a pointclose to its pivot axis, a trigger arm connected to said bar, and meansfor releasably holding said arm in the position for obstructing saidhammer.

8. A time fuse comprising in combination a firing hammer, a triggermechanism for holding said hammer in cocked position and having arelease arm, a holding lever having an abutment arranged to engage saidrelease arm when the latter is in cocked position and extending acrossthe path wherein said arm moves upon release of the hammer, and a timingmember having a surface engaging a portion of said holding lever toretain the same in trigger-holding position, said timing member beingconnected with a tilne mechanism and having a recess arranged to permitentrance of a part of the holding lever when in a certain position,whereby said lever is enabled to be displaced by the trigger arm,releasing the latter.

9.-In a time fuse, a hammer mechanism comprising a spring impelledhammer having a projection, a trigger bar rotatably mounted on an axistransverse to the line in which pressure is exerted by said projectionand having a shoulder portion arranged at one side of its axis ofrotation and between its ends to support said projection against thrustof the spring when said shoulder is approximately perpendicular to theline of movement of said projection, a time mechanism, and automaticallyreleasable means controlled by said time mechanism for holding thetrigger in the position described against the thrust of said spring.

10. In a, time fuse, a hammer mechanism comprising a firing hammerhaving a pro jectlon at one side of Its 11110 of movement, a springpressing said hammer toward the filll'W' )os1t1on a tII 'BI com 115111"a bar Db having separated trunnions by which it is plvoted beside saidhammer on an axis transverse to the movement of the latter and at oneside of the path of said projection, and having a surface at one side ofits pivot axis sustaining said projection against the pressure of thespring 'When placed in the cocked position with such surfacesubstantially perpendicular to said path, an arm on said trigger, aholding lever having an abutment to engage said arm Wheni the trigger isin the cocked position and to extend across the path wherein said armmoves into releasing position, and time controlled means for retainingsaid lever in such position and permitting its release of the triggerarm at a definite time.

'11. A mechanical time fuse comprising a spring actuated firing memberhaving a cocking projection, a bar having separated trunnion elementsand a flat surfacebetween said elements substantially parallel to theline joining said elements, a support for said bar having bearings forsaid trunnions and arranged to hold said fiat surface across the path ofsaid cocking projection when said firing member is cooked, the bar beingadapted to be turned to release said firing member,

a trigger arm connected with the bar, and

time controlled means normally engaging said trigger arm to hold thesame and the bar in the position which obstructs the firing member, andadapted to release the same at a predetermined time after firing theprojectile from the gun.

12. In a time fuse for shells the combination with a spring pressedhammer, a trigger bar supported at separated points to turn about anaxis passing through said points, having a portion at one side of saidaxis and between said points underlying a part of the hammer to hold thesame in cocked position and having an arm, a detent interposed in thepath of movement of said arm when'the latter is in cocked positionhaving an abutment for said arm crossing the path of movement of thelatter at an inclination to such path, whereby the force applied by saidarmtends to displace said detent, and ,a mechanically driven timingmember holding said'detent in place'provided with means for releasingthe detent at a given time.

1-3. A hammer and trigger mechanism for fuses comprising a movablehammer having a projection, a spring acting on said hammer to move thesame from cocked position to firing position, a trigger stop extendingacross the path in which said projection moves and having a surfacewhich obstructs and engages said projection when the hamaoe I 7 mer iscocked, means at opposite sides of said surface in a line substantiallyparallel thereto pivotally mounting said stop in a position such thatthe mint engaged by said projection is near said line and between suchline and the han'uner, whereby the hammertends to turn said stop andpass the same, and an arm connected with the stop adapted to be held inthe position which causes said surface to obstruct said shoulder.

14. A mechanical time fuse comprising a frame having plates and pillarsconnecting and spacing said plates, a spring impolled-hammer mounted insaid frame, a trigger mechanism for holding aid hammer cocked adapted tobe moved to release the hammer and including an arm, said arm beingmovable in a plane intersecting one of' said plates, and saidplatehaving a slot to receive the arm, both the slot and the plane inwhich the arm moves being otherwise than radial to the axis of the fuse,said arm when occupying saidslot projecting beyond the outer surface ofthe plate, a release lever mounted on the outer face of said platehaving a partto cross said slot and hold said arm therein, but adaptedto withdraw from the arm when permitted, and a motor driven timingelement movably mounted adjacent to said lever, holding the lever in theposition described and permitting its Withdrawal to release the triggerarm when said timing member reaches a given position.

15. In a mechanical time fuse adapted to be carried by a spinning shell,a frame, a spring impelled hammer, a pivotally mounted trigger forholding the hammer cocked, said trigger having an arm, a time-controlledmeans for holding said arm in the hammer-cocking position and forreleasing the arm, said arm being movable" in a plane other than radialto the axis of the fuse, and the plate having means for preventingdisplacement of said arm by centrifugal force.

16. In a time fuse, including a frame adapted to be supported on arotatable projectile in a given manner, a firing hammer movable in adirection parallel to the axis about which said frame is intended to110- tate, and having a laterally projecting shoulder, a trigger barhaving separated bearing portions arranged to turn upon a pivot linewhich is substantially radial to saidlaxis, said bar having a surfacebetween its bearing points adapted to lie across the path of saidprojection when the hammer is cocked and to be moved by turning of thebar ,out of said path, an arm on said bar, a detent for engaging saidarm to hold the bar in the hammer cocking position, a chronometricmechanism mounted in said frame, and a timing member driven therebyconstructed to effect release of said trigger arm at a predeterminedinstant.

17. In a mechanical time fuse, a springimpelled hammer, a stop forholding said hammer in cocked position having a release arm, a pivotallymounted two-armed lever formed with an abutment on one arm in the pathof and obstructing said release arm,

said lever having a finger on its other arm,

A the trigger arm.

18. In a time fuse, a time mechanism including a timing disk having anotch in its periphery, a two-armed lever mounted in a plane parallel toand near the plane of said disk having a finger on one arm which isarranged to bear on the peripheral part of the disk, the arms ofsaid-lever on opposite sides of a line passing through the axis .of'

the fuse and the fulcrum of the lever being equal. to one another in theproduct of mass multiplied by distance of the center of grav-.

ity of the,arm from the fulcrum, whereby to equalize the turning momentof centrifugal force acting at opposite sides of said line, a rotatablymounted trigger stop having a release arm movable in a path whichcrosses a part of said lever in a plane transverse to the plane of thelatter; and a spring-impelled hammer having a shoulder adapted to beengaged by said trigger stop to hold'the hammer in cockedposition, the.

trigger release arm being then transverse to said lever, and the latterhaving an abutment crossing the path of said arm and so disposed thatthe pressure exerted by the arm tends to displace it from such path,

19. In a mechanical time fuse the combination with a spring-impelledhammer,

of a rotative trigger bar having a locking shoulder to hold said hammerin cocked position and an arm projecting from said bar transverse to itsaxis of rotation, a

driven timing member, and a release lever having two arms, one of whichengages said timing member and the other of which is engaged by saidtrigger arm, said release lever being so constructed that thecentrifugal forces acting upon its arms on opposite sides of itsfulcrumare substantially balanced, andthe timing member having provisions forpermitting, when in a certain position, such movement of the releaselever as to permit displacement of said abutment from the path of saidtrigger arm.

20. In a time fuse having a frame, a driven timing disk with a notch inits rim, a hammer, and a trigger for holding the position.

hammer cocked provided with a hammerlocking shoulder and a release arm,a release lever fulcrumed upon said frame and having a finger crossingthe rim of said disk and adapted to enter the notch thereof, said leverhaving a second arm provided with an abutment engagin the trigger armwhen the latter is in cocke position and inclined to the plane ofmovement thereof whereby said arm is adapted to displace said abutmentfrom its path when the lever is otherwise permitted to move; said leverhaving its arms so disposed on opposite sides of a line joining itsfulcrum with the axis of the fuse and so proportioned that centrifugalforces acting on said arms are substantially balanced.

21. In a time fuse having a hammer and trigger mechanism and a timecontrolled mechanism for governing the operation thereof, a stop forpreventing running of said mechanism prior to the-firing from a gun ofthe projectile to which said fuse is applied, said stop comprising apiece lo cated to obstruct a portion of said time mechanism and beingdisplaceable from such location by set back, and having also lockingmeans controlled by centrifugal force to prevent rebound intoobstructing 22. In a time fuse, a frame having plates, a time mechanismmounted in said frame includingva rotating arm, hammer and triggermechanism controlled by said time mechanism, and a stop having a partlocated to arrest said arm and thereby prevent running of the timemechanism, said stop having shanks mounted in the. plates of said frameand bein movable endwise, and resilient jaws resisting such movement butadapted to be displaced to permit movement of the stop under set back,said stop having also capacity for lateral movement and having ashoulder movable by centrifugal force under a part of one of said platesto prevent rebound of the stop into locking-position.

23. In a time fuse according .to claim 22 the stop characterized byshanks movable endwise in the frame plates, resilient jaws embracing oneof said shanks, the latter having a conical surface adjacent to saidjaws and adapted to be forced between them by set back, and the othershank having a shoulder'arranged to be withdrawn from the frame plateadjacent thereto by set back and to be carried undersaid plate bycentrifugal force. I

241 A mechanical time fuse comprising a bottom plate, a top plate, andan intermediate plate, pillars supporting said top plate andintermediate plate, a driven staff having hearings in the top andintermediate plates, a timing member carried by said staff, a gear trainhaving bearings in the bottom and intermediate plates, an oscillatingescape device having one of its bearings in said bottom plate, aseparate spider or plate having the other bearing for said escape devicebeneath the intermediate plate and independent thereof, a firing hammer,

member mounted on said staff, a gear train having bearings in, and beingarranged between two of said plates and geared "to said center staff, anoscillative escape member mounted between the bottom and intermediateplates in the axis of the fuse having pivots, one of which bears in thebottom plate, a separate bridge supported out of contact with saidintermediate plate in which the other of. said pivots bears, a springtending to hold said escape member in a central position, means by whichone of the wheels of said train drives the escape member oscillatively,a firing hammer, and trigger mechanism for holding the same cocked,controlled and releasable by said member.

26. A mechanical time fuse comprising a massive frame composed of abottom plate, a top plate, pillars between the plates supporting the topplate, an intermediate plate within the circuit of said pillars, otherpillars supporting said intermediate plate, a bridge supported from thebottom plate under said intermediate plate, a center staff journaled inthe top and intermediate plates in the axis of the fuse, an oscillativeescape member journaled in the bottom plate and in said bridge, also inthe axis of the fuse, a main wheel on said stafi' between the top andintermediate plates, atime gear train between the bottom andintermediate plates, 7

a the first wheel of said train having a stafi which-passes through theintermediate plate, a pinion on said first wheel stafi above theintermediate plate meshing with said main wheel, a potence fixed on theintermediate plate having a bearing for said staff, the last wheel ofthe train being constructedand arranged to drive said escape member backand forth, a timing disk on said 'main shaft,

a spring impelled hammer, and trigger mechanism for holding said hammercocked controlled by said timing disk.

27. A mechanical time fuse comprising a frame consisting of top, bottom,and interv mediate plates with means holding said plates atgiven-distances apart, a gear train mounted between said bottom andintermediate plates, an oscillative escape device.

plates, pillars supporting said top and moperable by the last wheel ofsaid train having pivots one of which has its hearings in the bottom1plate, a bridge beneath and separate from t e intermediate plate havingthe bearing for the other pivot of said escape device, a main staffpassing through the top plate and having a bearing in the intermedlateplate, a wheel on said staff, a pinion in mesh with said wheel andconnected to the first wheel of the aforesaid train, the last namedwheel having a staff passing through the intermediate plate, a timingmember mounted on said main staff, and hammer and trigger mechanismcontrolled by said timing member..

28. In a mechanical time fuse, a frame comprising plates and massivepillars interposed between said plates, a time regulated mechanismmounted in said frame, a staff controlled as to its speed of rotation bysaid mechanism, passing through one of I the plates, a-timing diskcarried by said stafi and rotatable therewith, a release lever pivotallymounted and substantially lying I on one ofsaid plates having a portionto engage the timing disk and having a release portion, a springactuated hammer, and a trigger for holding said hammer cocked providedwith a release armengaged with the release portion of said lever andadapted to disengage itselftherefrom when said timing disk occupies agiven relation to the lever. I

29. In a time fuse, a frame comprising a bottom plate, two sets ofpillars or posts mounted thereon of different heights, a topplate-mounted upon the pillars of greater height, an intermediate plateand a bridge mounted upon the pillars of less height, said bridge beingbelow the intermediate plate and separated therefrom, a main staffhaving bearings in the top and intermediate plates in the axis of thefuse, an oscillative pallet having bearings in the bottom plate andbridge in the same axis, a gear wheel mounted on said stafi, a pinionmeshing with said gear wheel, a stafl' for said pinion passing throughthe intermediate plate having a bearing in the bottom plate, a potenceon the intermediate plate having a heating for the opposite end of thelatter staff, a gear wheel on the latter stafl, and a time train betweenthe bottom and intermediate plates driven by the last named wheel andincluding an escape Wheel coiiperatmg with said pallet.

30. In a time fuse according to claim 29, the frame being furtherdistinguished by a recess in the top plate, a coiled spring in saidrecess connected at one end to said center staff, a winding wheel towhich the diate plate against springing under the forces acting When theshell equipped with the fuse is fired from a gun.

32. A frame for a mechanical time fuse according to claim 3-1distingiiished by a r bridge beneath and separated from the inter- Imediate plate, an oscillative pallet having its bearings in said bridgeand in the bottom plate in substantial alinement with the main staff butrelieved of pressure from said m'ain stafi' under set back by theseparation of the bridge from the intermediate plate.

33;, A frame according to claim 32 distinguished further by postsmounted upon the bottom plate on opposite sides of the pallet andsupporting said bridge at points relatively near the pallet. v

34. A frame comprising a bottom plate, pillars mounted on said bottomplate, a top plate, mounted on said pillars, a second set of pillarsshorter than the dlstance between said plates and mounted on. the bottomplate, an intermediate plate and a bridge sup ported on the last namedpillars, with a space between them, and posts rising from the bottomplate on opposite sides of the center thereof and supporting saidbridge.

35. A frame according -to claim 34 distinguished by the fact that saidposts are formed With shoulders supporting the bridge and with reducedends which pass through the bridge and support the intermediate plate.

36. A frame according to claim 35 distinguished further by a suspenderdepending from the top plate and engaged with the intermediate platenear its rim between two of the supporting pillars thereof to supportthat part of the intermediate plate against distortion under set back.

37. In a mechanical time fuse, a' frame composed of plates and pillarsconnected together as a structural unit, time mechanism mounted on saidframe, a spring impelled hammer mounted and movable on the frame,- achair independent of said frame and secured to one of the plates thereofadjacent to the hammer and provided with separated uprights, and atrigger bar journaled in said uprights and having its intermediate partextending near the hammer and provided with a shoulder adapted toobstruct a part of the hammer to hold the latter in cocked position.

38. In a time fuse, the combination with a frame, time mechanism and ahammer, of a chair provided with-separated standards having open notchesin their upper ends forming journal bearings, and a trigger barprovided-With journals adapted to occupy and turn in said bearings, thepart between the bearings being arranged across the path through which aportion-of said hammer hammer cocked.

39. A time fuse comprising a driven shaft, a time train driven by saidshaft for regulating the rate of ,rot'ation of thelatter, an oscillativeescape inember driven by a wheel of said train, plates holding saidshaft, time train, and escape member, a spring connected to said escapemember lying against the surface of one of said plates, a regulator forsaid spring comprising a slide having a fork embracing said spring andbeing supported on and being movable over the last-named plate, a screwengaged with a part of said slide, and a holder fixed to said plate intowhich the screw is rotatably threaded, a hammer, a trigger mechanism forsaid hammer, and a release, meansdriven by said shaft for releasing thetrigger to permit operation of the hammer ff',

40. A time fuse eomprising :t'base'plate and atop plate, a driven.shaft, a time train gearedto anddriven by said. shaft for regulating thes eed of, the latter, an oscillative escape mem 'er f driven one'of thewheels of said train, a" spring controlling said escape member, aregulator. for said spring comprising a screw, a post mounted in thebase plate into which said screwis threaded. aslidehaving foot'portionsresting on said plate, in one of which the screw is confined so that itmay rotate without moving endwise, a forked projection on said slideembracing the spring and movable along ,the same, and tli e"b'ase platehaving a groove parallel witliljt-he spring in which a projection on oneof said foot portion enters, and a guard fired to the base plateoverlying and holdinguthe regulator slide in place; hammer and triggermechanism. and release means fo-r- ,said mechanism operated and,controlled by said shaft.

In testimony whereof I have atlixed my signature.

OLOF OHLSON.

'moves 'in striking, whereby to hold the

